Cleaning apparatus



.Fan. 23, 1945. H. M. WEAVER 2,367,842

CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 8, 1945 2-H I 'Immmmumuru grwe/wbom HARRY M. WEAVER Patented Jan. 23, 1945 CLEANING APPARATUS Harry M. Weaver, Cuyahoga .Falls, Ohio, assignor to The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 8, 1943, Serial No. 509,512

5 Claims. (Cl. 51-141) This invention relates to cleaning, bufiing or polishing apparatus, especially to apparatu of the type adapted for use in the cleaning of a large number of annular molds, such as are used in the manufacture of pneumatic rubber tubes.

The general object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive and efficient device for cleaning smooth-surfaced cavities in annular molds.

i A further object of the invention is to eliminate the use of a boring mill and a hand rotary buffer in polishing or cleaning annular molds having arcuate cavities therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel, easily operated apparatus for producing a high polished finish on arcuate cavities or surfaces.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be made apparent from the accompanying specification when considered in view of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is an elevation of cleaning apparatus embodying the invention, showing it in operative relation to a mold which is shown in transverse section;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the cleaning apparatus of Fig. 1 taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the adjustable rotor means of the cleaning apparatus.

Referring in detail to the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, cleaning, buliing or polishing apparatus I is shown in operative relation to a mold section H. The mold section II is annular and has a transversely arcuate molding cavity I2 therein. For convenience, only one side of the mold section H is shown. The cleaning apparatus ll! includes a frame made from a slotted, horizontally positioned support arm 13 by which the apparatus can be mounted and a vertically extending arm 14 for carrying adjustable cleaning means. A pin I is journalled in the arm extending therefrom on which an electric motor 11 is carried. The motor ll drives a roller it over which an abrasive cleaning belt IQ of suitable composition passes and is driven thereby. Guide rollers 2| and 22 are journalled on an L-shaped bracket 23 secured to the arm l4 with the abrasive belt l9 passing thereover.

The operative cleaning apparatus mainly comprises a unit that includes roller 24, 25, 26 with the rollers 24 and 25 being mounted for rotation by pins 21 and 28, respectively, extending between mounting discs, or plates 29 and 3 l. The roller 26 is, in turn, mounted for rotation by a pin 32 that is mounted by two arcuate, or curved i3 and has a bracket 16 levers 33 and 34. The curved levers 33 and 36 have end portions 33a and 34a, respectively, offset from the remaining portions of the levers, which are made substantially complementary with relation to the mounting discs 29 and 3| so as to be fitted into the planes thereof in the lower sections of same and form a substantially circular unit with the rollers 24, 25 and 26 protruding slightly beyond the periphery thereof. The offset end portions 33a and 34a of the levers overlie the mounting discs 29 and 31 and are fulcrumed thereon at the points A. Springs 35 secured to the discs 29 and 31 connect to the end portions 33a and 34a and urge the lever arms 33 and 34 and the roller 26 outwardly with relation to the mounting discs and the rollers 24 and 25 whereby the roller 26 is adjustably positioned with relation thereto.

The belt l9 passes over all of the rollers 24, 25 and 26 with the roller 26 being designed to force the belt I9 against the surface to be cleaned, such as the cavity l2 in the mold l I.

The unit 20 is secured to and positioned by a shaft 36 that is journalled on the arm l4 and a small bracket 14a carried at the lower end thereof. Then the position of the unit 20, and cleaning action of the roller 26 and belt I9, is controlled by a worm 31 which engages a gear 38 on the shaft 36. One end of the' worm 31 is jour-'.

nalled on and positioned by a lug 39 carried on the arm l4 while the other end of the worm is jo-urnalled on and positioned by the bracket Ma. The worm is controlled, in turn, by a shaft 4! that is driven by suitable power means (not shown). Hence the position of the roller 25 with relation to the transverse contour of the molding cavity can be controlled and the rate of movement of the cleaning belt over the cavity surface [2 can be adjusted to that desired. Usually the shaft 4| is continuously rotated slowly although it may be desired to rotate it at periodic intervals. The mold II is concentrically mounted upon any suitable rotatable plate, such as plate 42 that may be the turn table of a horizontal grinding machine. By rotating the plate 42, at the time the belt I9 is rotating, circumferential portions of the mold cavity are cleaned. Correlation of the rotational speed of the plate 42 and the rotary movement of the unit 20, through the shaft 4|, automatically effects the desired cleaning of the entire mold cavity. Of course, the shaft 36 must be positioned substantially at the transverse axis of the arcuate cavity 12 so that it will move the roller 26 around the cavity surface and enable a cleaning action to be effected thereon.

The abrasive belt I9 is tensioned constantly by a counterweight 42 secured to the pin l5. Such tension in the belt l9 tends to urge the roller 26 inwardly with relation to the roller unit 20 so that the springs 35 must be strong enough to overcome this tendency and retain the cleaner roll 26 in the desired position with relation to the roller unit 20.

Practice of the invention results in a very high polish on the surface processed. The finish obtained is especially suitable as a plating base.

While one embodiment of the invention has been completely illustrated and described herein by way of illustration, it will be apparent that modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Cleaning apparatus for cleaning transversely arcuate cavities in annular molds as the molds are rotated in a plane, which apparatuscomprises a stationarilypositioned frame; a roller unit comprising a pair of mounting discs, a pair of rollers journalled on and extending between said discs, a pair of curved lever arms positioned in the planes of said discs and being provided with offset end'sections overlying said discs, said lev'er arms being fulcrumed on said discs at the portion of the arms connecting the offset portion thereof to the portion in the plane of said discs, a roller journalled on and extending between said lever arms, and spring means associated with said discs and extending to said lever arms for urging said roller journalled thereon outwardly with relation to said roller unit, all of said :rollers extending outwardly of said disc members; a shaft journalled on said frame and mounting said roller unit, said shaft being positionable substantially at the center of the cavity to be cleaned; a cleaning belt extending around said roller unit; means for driving said belt; means for tension'ing said belt; and means for controlling the arcuate position of said roller unit with relation to the cavity to be cleaned to regulate the cleaning action thereof upon the annular mold as it is rotated.

2. Cleaning apparatus for cleaning transversely arcuate cavities in annular molds as the molds are rotated in a plane, which apparatus comprises a stationarily positioned frame; a :roller unit comprising a pair of mounting members, 'a pair of lever arms positioned in the planes of said members and being provided with oflset end sections overlying said members, said lever arms being fulcrumed on said members, :a roller ,jnurnalled on said lever arms and extending therebeyond, and spring means associated with said members and extending to sefld lever arms for urging said roller journalled thereon outwardly with relation to said roller unit; a shaft journalled on said frame and mounting said roller unit, said shaft being positionable substantially at the center of the cavity to be cleaned; a cleaning belt extending around said roller; means for driving said belt; and means for rotating said shaft to alter the angular position of said roller unit within the cavity to be cleaned as the annular mold is rotated.

3. Cleaning apparatus for transversely arcuate cavities in annular molds, which apparatu comprises a frame; a roller unit comprising a pair of mounting discs, a pair of rollers journalled between said discs, a pair of curved lever arms fulcrumed on said discs, a roller journalled between said lever arms and extending beyond the perimeter of said discs, and spring means associated with said discs and extending to said lever arms for urging said roller journalled thereon outwardly of the discs; a shaft journalled on said frame and mounting said roller unit, said shaft being positionable substantially at the center of the cavity to be cleaned; a cleaning belt extending around said roller unit and engaging the rollers thereof; means for driving said belt; means for tensioning said belt; and means for rotating said shaft to alter the angular position of said roller unit with relation to said frame to regulate the cleaning action of the unit.

4. Automatic cleaning apparatus for arcuate cavities in annular molds as such molds are rotated in a plane, which apparatus comprises a stationarily positioned frame, a roller, means for mounting said roller for movement of translation substantially parallel to the transverse contour of the cavity to be cleaned, spring means for urging said roller outwardly of said mounting means, a cleaning belt extending over the surface of said roller, means for driving .said belt, and means for controlling the arcuate position of said roller with relation to the transverse contour of the cavity to correlate the positioning and cleaning action of said roller with the rotation of said mold whereby an annular region of the mold cavity can be completely cleaned before said roller is advanced to a new position.

5. Cleaning apparatus for transversely arcuate mold cavities in annular molds, said apparatus comprising an abrasive endless belt, means for driving said belt, means comprising a plurality of rollers for mounting said belt, one of said rollers at least being positionable within the cavity to be cleaned, means mounting the last mentioned roller for movement of translation parallel to the transverse contour of the cavity to be cleaned whereby the belt passing over the roller is presented to different transverse areas of the cavity, and yielding means local to the mounting of said roller for urging the roller outwardly of the mounting and toward the cavity wall to press the driven belt against the latter.

HARRY M. WEAVER. 

